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| Hurricane fears shorten spacewalk | Hurricane fears shorten spacewalk |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hurricane Dean has led Nasa to shorten a spacewalk by astronauts aboard the shuttle Endeavour to allow the shuttle to return to earth earlier. | Hurricane Dean has led Nasa to shorten a spacewalk by astronauts aboard the shuttle Endeavour to allow the shuttle to return to earth earlier. |
| The American space agency is concerned that, if Hurricane Dean veers towards the Texas coast, it could affect Mission Control in Houston. | |
| The final space walk was cut by two hours so the astronauts could prepare for a Tuesday landing. | The final space walk was cut by two hours so the astronauts could prepare for a Tuesday landing. |
| This would be 24 hours earlier than initially planned. | This would be 24 hours earlier than initially planned. |
| Nasa had already decided that a hole in Endeavour's underside would not be repaired before it returns to Earth. | Nasa had already decided that a hole in Endeavour's underside would not be repaired before it returns to Earth. |
| Scientists had been worried that the 9cm (3.5in) gash could lead to structural damage on re-entry, but extensive tests concluded it should pose no problem. | Scientists had been worried that the 9cm (3.5in) gash could lead to structural damage on re-entry, but extensive tests concluded it should pose no problem. |
| During launch on 8 August, a chunk of insulating foam hit the shuttle, creating the square gouge. | During launch on 8 August, a chunk of insulating foam hit the shuttle, creating the square gouge. |
| Foam damage has been a major concern for Nasa since the Columbia disaster in 2003 when a briefcase-sized chunk of foam insulation broke off during launch and pierced the shuttle's wing. | Foam damage has been a major concern for Nasa since the Columbia disaster in 2003 when a briefcase-sized chunk of foam insulation broke off during launch and pierced the shuttle's wing. |
| This caused the shuttle to disintegrate on re-entry into the atmosphere, killing all seven crew. | This caused the shuttle to disintegrate on re-entry into the atmosphere, killing all seven crew. |
| Endeavour's mission, scheduled for 14 days, is to continue the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS). | Endeavour's mission, scheduled for 14 days, is to continue the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS). |